Falling into Winter

September has been absolutely stunning here in Colorado. Warm, sunny days and cool, crisp nights have crafted perfect conditions, and projects are falling left and right. The leaves are turning, lighting up the mountainsides in a brilliant display of oranges, yellows and reds. It really doesn’t get any better than this.

Pondering this incredible beauty, however, it’s hard not to think about the fact that it all points to one thing: the coming of winter. Sure, it could be a nice, long fall, and stay good through November, like it does in some years, but that doesn’t change the fact that colder weather is inevitably on the horizon. Some find this depressing, but I prefer to focus on all the new opportunities that come with it. Here’s why I’m not dreading the approaching cold, but rather will embrace all the changes it brings.

We Can Climb in the Sun!

Maybe the best part of cooler weather, after months and months of hiding from the burning orb, we finally get to bask in its warmth again. There’s something liberating about not having to lurk in the shade all day, and cliffs that were avoided all summer are back on the menu again. For us, the desert beckons, with it’s brilliant crack lines and soaring towers, enough to keep anyone busy for a lifetime of winters.

Training = Get Stronger

From May through September, we’re fortunate to be able to climb outside after work. Being on real rock four days a week does wonders for your technique, but there’s nothing like training indoors to get strong. Being able to hit focused workouts that attack specific goals means you can get a lot done in a short amount of time. Many folks I know that climb all winter are at the peak of their power when the spring rolls around, the trick is keeping it up once we stop climbing inside!

Gratitude

Each day you get to climb outside in the winter feels like a special gift. Heading to the crag when the high is in the 30’s, only to find yourself in a t-shirt at the base of the cliff is one of the finer things about the “off-season” in the West. The days are crisp, the sky is incredibly blue, and the warmth of the sun is like hot chocolate for your soul.

Do Something Else

For some, winter is a welcome break, giving you the chance to focus on other things that can’t get your attention during the season. Maybe it’s time to go skiing, or pursue other winter activities. As much as I’ve drifted from being a skier, there’s still nothing like standing on top of peak you’ve hiked to the top of, looking at 3000′ of untracked bliss below you. Or maybe you’re one of the twisted souls who enjoys ice climbing. Whatever it is, winter is the perfect time to vary things up, and you’ll be that much more psyched to come back to climbing when the weather gets warm again.

For us, winter is a welcome slow time. Sleeping in on the weekends, hitting the gym for a couple of hours, it’s a nice change of pace. And when the sun is shining, we’ll be out at the warmest local cliff we can find, enjoying it for all it’s worth!